2027 Presidency: No Candidate Can Win Without Northern Support – Former Tinubu Aide

Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has declared that no politician can secure the Nigerian presidency in 2027 without the backing of the northern region. In a video interview obtained by *Daily Trust* in Kaduna, Baba-Ahmed made this assertion while appearing alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He stated that the North would soon make a decisive move regarding its political future. “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed voiced concerns about the state of the nation and called on northerners to be wary of politicians who use division and deception as tools ahead of the 2027 elections. He emphasized the need for leadership that truly understands and addresses the region’s challenges. Reflecting on the past, he pointed to the hardships endured by the North during the Boko Haram insurgency, stressing that every group—Muslims, Christians, Fulani, Baju, and others—suffered during that period and must now remain united.

He cautioned that politicians can no longer assume automatic support from the North. “Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time northerners had to unite. Today, no politician can just show up and expect northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” he asked.

Warning against potential electoral malpractice, Baba-Ahmed said any attempt to rig the 2027 elections would be met with strong resistance. “If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching. Elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say ‘enough is enough.’ The injustice and sidelining must stop,” he stated.

He urged voters in the North to rise above identity politics and instead prioritize competence and integrity when choosing leaders. “We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want the right leader—let him fall from heaven—we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Baba-Ahmed said the northern electorate had learned painful lessons from past elections and would approach the 2027 polls with a renewed mindset and greater political awareness.